County Championship: Alex Davies dominates rain-hit return to Lancs

Returning former Lancashire wicketkeeper Alex Davies made an unbeaten 47 for Warwickshire but recalled paceman Tom Bailey struck three times for the hosts on a truncated rain-hit first day limited to just 39 overs in Manchester.

It took until 14:10 BST to get the game underway following overnight rain.

But Bailey, who has struggled for consistency so far in this County Championship Division One campaign, showed what has been missing.

He dismissed in-form opener Rob Yates, former skipper Will Rhodes and England Lions all-rounder Ed Barnard either side of tea to finish with 3-25.

After helping Davies put on 38 without loss, left-hander Yates badly misjudged a Bailey delivery which jagged back to remove his off bail in the 11th over for 19.

Bears skipper Davies continued to played some trademark cover drives before Bailey produced a beauty to find Rhodes’ edge on 14 and keeper Matty Hurst took the catch.

Warwickshire’s total of 74-2 then became 82-3 when Barnard edged another excellent Bailey delivery to Hurst.

But, when the players left the field at 17:09 BST due to a combination of drizzle and bad light, with Davies on 47 and Dan Mousley on one, they never returned.

Match report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network.